On behalf of the Scientific Committee of the International Board of Pediatric Surgical Research:

The 36th International Symposium on Pediatric Surgical Research (ISPSR 2023) was held at the Aula Magna, Universita degli Studi di Milano in Milan from 6 to 8 October, 2023.The first day of the Meeting was devoted to State of the Art and Future Directions in Pediatric Surgery. Fourteen Keynote lectures were delivered on the following topics: Necrotizing Enterocolitis: Current Status and Future Directions by Prof. A. Pierro from Toronto, Intestinal Failure and Microbiome by Prof. M. Pakarinen from Helsinki, Nutritional Strategies in the Management of Short Bowel Syndrome by Prof. M. Hollwarth from Graz, Smooth Muscle Disorders causing Gut Dysmotility in Children by Prof. P. Puri from Dublin, Regenerative Medicine: Current Research and Perspective in Pediatric Surgery by Prof P. De Coppi from London, Skin Regeneration as a Perspective of New Regenerative Medicine by Prof. M. Meuli from Zurich, Fetal Surgery: State of the Art and Future Directions by Prof. R. Ruano., from Miami, Innovative Neuroendoscopy for Fetal Hydrocephalus by Prof. J.L. Peiro from Cincinnati, Centralization of Pediatric Surgery by Prof. Tomas Wester from Stockholm, Role of AI and ChatGPT in Pediatric Surgery by Prof. Richard Keijzer from Winnipeg, Coaching in Pediatric Surgery: A Novel Approach to improve Clinical Performance, Surgeon’s Wellbeing, and Patient Care by Dr. E. Ruttenstock from Toronto, Management of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Future Directions by Prof. A. Zani, Pediatric Robotic- Assisted Surgery by Prof. A. Yamataka from Tokyo and Bladder Bowel Dysfunction: Current Management and Future Directions by Prof. M Garriboli from London.

On the other two days, 100 papers on clinical and basic science research were presented. The highlight of the symposium was the Prize Session. There were ten excellent papers presented at this session. The Prem Puri Basic Science Research Prize was awarded to Matisse Blundell from Toronto, Canada, for her presentation on “Evidence of Inflammation in the Brain of Rat Fetuses with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and the Effects of Antenatal Administration of Stem Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles”. The Michael Hollwarth Prize for the Best Clinical Research Paper was awarded to Felicia Balsamo also from Toronto, Canada, for her presentation on “Argon Inhalation Improves Systemic Inflammation and Promotes Intestinal Recovery During Neonatal Sepsis”.